Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad's reelection prospects are improving as voters approve 58 - 32
percent of the job he is doing, and say 50 - 41 percent that he deserves to be reelected, according
to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

A July 19 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University showed
job approval at 51 - 33 percent while voters said 46 - 43 percent that he did not deserve four
more years.

Backing another term for Gov. Branstad are Republicans 81 - 11 percent and
independent voters 50 - 40 percent, with Democrats opposed 72 - 19 percent. There is a large
gender gap as men say four more years 58 - 36 percent while 43 percent of women say yes and
45 percent say no.

Branstad is close to 50 percent in races against three possible Democratic challengers:

49 - 33 percent over State Sen. Jack Hatch;

50 - 32 percent over State Rep. Tyler Olson;

49 - 31 percent over former State Rep. Bob Krause.

"Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad enters his re-election year in better shape than when we
looked five months ago. He defeats his three potential Democratic opponents by 16 points or
more and has the kind of job approval that usually goes along with comfortable reelections," said
Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"Of course anything is possible with 11 months until Election Day."

"But with 71 percent of Iowa voters satisfied with the way things are going in the state,
and more than six in 10 seeing the governor as honest and a strong leader, whoever emerges
from the Democratic field will face an uphill climb to the governor's mansion," Brown added.

Iowa voters give Gov. Branstad high marks for character, saying:

61 - 29 percent that he is honest and trustworthy;

67 - 27 percent that he is a strong leader;

56 - 37 percent that he cares about their needs and problems.

Voters say 30 - 14 percent that Branstad's time in office makes them less likely rather
than more likely to vote for him, while 54 percent say it makes no difference.
2016 President Race

In an early look at the 2016 presidential race, New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie leads
former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton 45 - 40 percent.

There is a large gender gap as women back Clinton 49 - 39 percent while men back
Christie 51 - 30 percent. Independent voters back the Republican 44 - 35 percent.

Christie would make a good president, Iowa voters say 46 - 30 percent and say the same
about Clinton 53 - 42 percent. Paul gets a negative 38 - 42 percent on whether he would make
a good president. Cruz, Bush and Vice President Joseph Biden all get bigger negative scores on
how they would do in the Oval Office.

"New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie pulls ahead of Secretary Hillary Clinton among
Iowa voters. The change from the last time Quinnipiac University polled Iowa, July 22 when
they were tied 41 - 41 percent, reflects a general improvement for Republicans, almost certainly
related to the controversy over 'Obamacare,'" Brown said.

From December 10 - 15, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,617 registered voters with a
margin of error of +/- 2.4 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia,
Colorado, Iowa and the nation as a public service and for research.

For more information, visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling, call (203) 582-5201, or
follow us on Twitter.

1. If the election for Governor were being held today, and the candidates were Jack Hatch the Democrat and Terry Branstad the Republican, for whom would you vote?